In 2007, notorious Czech national, Mr Radovan Krejcir, applied for asylum in South Africa. His application was refused in October 2008. Thereafter, Mr Krejcir appealed to the RAB. The applicants, three national media houses, requested the RAB’s permission to have journalists present at this appeal application hearing in order to report on the proceedings. Their requests were refused based on the Refugees Act.

In terms of section 26 of the Companies Act a company is required to make its securities register available to all members of the public upon request. A request that is lodged under section 26 must be complied with within 14 days.

After the respondents’ refusal to comply with the requests lodged by amaBhungane, amaBhungane, represented by the Webber Wentzel Media Law Team, approached the North Gauteng High Court for an order that that the records should be delivered because section 26 of the Companies Act provides an absolute right of access to this information to all members of the public.